Clasp



19, i942. c. A. GoonwlN 2,283,328

CLASP Filed March 2o, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 III/IA I BY 55 "5 @www A T T ORNE YS.

May 19, 1942. c. A. GOODWIN CLASP Filed March 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N V ENT 0R. Wwf/25 j @o cra/wz?? m mw TTORNEYS.

Patented May 19, 1942 Unirse STATE-s CLASP charles A. Goodwin, East Providence, 1t. I., assignor to B. A. Ballou'& Co., Inc., a corporation of Rhode Island Application March-20, 1941, Serial No. 384,305

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a clasp of the type which may be used for separably securing together two parts, such as the ends of a chain.

Clasps usually consist of several parts which are relatively movable so that, when moved to one position, some loop or link may be inserted and, when moved to another position, the loop or link will be retained in position. The provision for retaining the parts in certain relative desired position may take the form of some additional locking means or some spring-urged means involving a more or less complicated construction; or, the formation of parts may be such that their manufacture is relatively expensive, all of which is to be obviated in `the present construction.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a clasp of such structure that it may be formed from sheet stock with portions cut out or deflected or bent to complete its arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp which maybe operated even when hidden from the users View by reason of the parts so formed that their manipulation will be simple.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp which maybe operated by either hand of the operator with the direction of movementV easily discernible by merely feeling and without the necessity of viewing the clasp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portion to engage the loop or eye of the chain to be attached by the provision of a hook withl an opening such that entrance thereto is easy to find.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which may be formed from a minimum number of parts such, for instance, as two parts. I

Another object of this invention is to 'provide aclasp which will be of such construction that the same may be inexpensively manufactured and assembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for locking the parts in certain desired relative positions.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my clasp with the chain shown as attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view simil-ar to Fig. 1, illustrating the clasp on a larger lscale and in closed position with the chain omitted;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the clasp in open position;

Fig. 4 Vis an edge view of the clasp looking from the top thereof, as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a central sectional view of the clasp;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the body member of the clasp as cut from sheet stock before folding;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the latch member of the claspV as cut from sheet stock and after the center pivot portion and locking detent is provided thereon;

Fig. 9 is an edge View of the structure shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. l0 illustrates a fragmental edge view showing a modified arrangement of the body of the clasp;

Fig. 10a is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified arrangement;

Fig. 11 is a modified View of the clasp showing the same as provided with an open center;

- Fig. 12 is a section on line l2-I2 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a section on line I3-l3 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a plan View of a diiferent modified form of clasp in closed position, changed with relation to the structure shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is a View similar to Fig. 14 but showing the clasp in open position;`

, Fig. 16 is a section on line lli-I5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of a still different modication of the invention, similar to Fig. 14; and

Fig. 18 is al section on line I8--I8 of Fig. 1'7. I In carrying out this invention I provide two parts. One of these parts is so folded as to envelope the other part, and the folding is of such a character that the enveloping body applies a continual friction by reason of its inherent structural properties so as to retard relative movement of the other part.` Some means is provided for guiding one of themembers in its movement relative to' the" other member. l utilize the resilience vof the enveloping part to also afford a Aholding of the members in their closed position. The parts all are formed without the use of springs and by a mere bending er deforming of the stock after being cut out to certain denite shapes,-thus reducing the clasp to a simple construction.

With reference to the drawings for a more detailed description, Fig. 7 illustrates the body member cut out of sheerI stock to provide a'sect tion 20 and a section 2|, joined together by a bridging portion 22 which is folded and arched as at 23 so as to kprovide the sections 2B and 2l in opposed relation, and yet by reason of the arched folding, these members tend to move toward each other; and, although they may be moved apart-I due to the resilience of the bridge portion, the inherent elasticity of the structure by reason of this arched, folded relation tends d to move the sections 20 and 2| toward each other again so as to apply pressure on any part between them. The sections 20 and 2 l are provided with hook portions 24 and 25 which, when the sections 20 and 2| are folded together, are in registry as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, these hook portions being offset toward each other as at 26 (see Fig. 4) so that they will Contact as shown in Fig. 4. At diametrically opposite locations ofthe sections 2|J and 2|, I provide eyes 21 `and 28 which likewise are brought into registry when the sections 29 and 2| are folded together and which are offset toward each other as at 29 (see Fig. 4) so as to be in contiguous relation, although the sections 29 and 2| are spaced as illustrated in Fig. 4

A latch member designated generally 30, shown in Fig. 8, is located between the sections 26 and 2| of the body member. It is provided with a handle portion 3| protruding beyond these sections for easy engagement of the linger. The handle portion may be undercut as at 32 so as to be readily recognizable to the finger of the operator when the clasp is manipulated in a location out of sight; also for better grip of the operator it enables the fingernail to be placed in this undercut portion. There also is provided on the latch member an arm 33 which is arranged for movement to close the opening 34 to the hook portions 24-25.

Some desired arrangement is provided to govern the movement of the latch member with reference to the body member so that the arm 33 will move to a position to close the entrance 34 to the hook or to open the entrance to the hook for engagement of the loop with the end of the chain or for some like purpose. Many different arrangements for guiding the relative movement of the body and latch member may be provided, it usually being desirable to provide .that the movement be about some point within the area of the latch member. One convenient way of arranging for such movement is to provide for a central pivotal action by reason of a protuberance 35 on the latch member30 and a recess 3S in one of the sections, such as 2|, of the body member into which the protuberance 35 may extend and act as a .pivot for the latch member which is conned between the sections 20 and 2| p of the body. In thisrelationship the latch 30 is centrally pivoted and may be readily moved about the pivotal mounting 35, 36 as a center by maniplatch member between `them. when the laten is,y

in closed position a detent 31 extends into an opening 38 in the section 2| so as to hold the members in closed position. The detent 31 is formed with a Vflat portion 39 so as to engage the abutment edge 40 (see Fig. 6) of the opening 38 and limit the movement of the arm 33 to a position in alignment with the end of the hook .as shown in Fig. 2. When the .latch is moved to open position, as shown .in Fig. 3, the detent 31 spreads the sections 20 and 2| .with the body maintaining the latchcontinually under pressure applied to its opposite sides by the body and thus serving to hold `the latch member in open position.

In Fig. 10a instead of holding the latch member under pressure through the detent 31, I provide a detent without the abutment 39 and provide an opening 38 for receiving the detent 31 when the latch member is in open position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10a.

In some instances instead .of providing the body sections 20 and 2| of substantially disc-like n formation, these may be provided with an open center, as shown by sections 20' and 2| in Figs. l1 to 13 inc1usive; and a latch member, designated generally 30', will also be provided with an open center; and the guiding relation between the body member and the latch member will be provided by engagement between the inner edge 4| of the latch and the inturning flange 42 of the section 2|', both of which are circular and provide for guiding the latch in an annular orbit, the pivotal relation being thus made larger and hollow by essentially the same arrangement as provided in the relationship described in Figs. 1 to 9; the same detent 31 and opening 3B are provided and the same handle or finger piece for manipulation of the members is provided. Likewise, the same hook 24, 25 and the same eye 21, 28 are formed, these being offset in the manner heretofore described.

In some cases instead of offsetting the hook portions 24 and 25, these may be, as shown in Fig. 10, left spaced; and the arm 33 corresponding Ato the arm 33 may be of longer dimension to extend between and interlock with the spaced elements of the hook.

In Figs. 14 to 18, the hook heretofore described and designated 24, 25 has been omitted. The annular formation, as shown in Figs. 11 to 13, of the latch has been modied to provide an opening 45 in that annulus; while the annular body sections have also been modified to provide openings 46, these openings being in registry, as shown in Fig. 15; while they are shown out of registry by relative movement of the latch member and body member as shown in Fig. 14. In this arrangement instead of providing a hook formed as an extension on the edge of the body member, the body member is arranged to itself provide a portion to receive a loop element within it, while the opening is closed by moving the members so that their corresponding openings move out of registry, as shown in Figs. 14 and 1'?.

Figs. 14 to 16 further illustrate the body similarly formed of two sections 20 and 2|', but these two sections are rolled toward each other as at 41 so as to guide the latch member 39" at its outer peripheryrather than at its inner periphery, as shown in Figs. 1l to 13, this being accomplished by rolling the edges of the sections as at 48 toward each other into meeting relation.

In Figs, 1'7 and 18, each of the sections .29 and 2| is arched to be inwardly concave, as shown in Fig. 18, so that a guide is formed for relative movement between the parts.

I claim:

1. In a clasp, a body member comprising a sheet of stock in substantially a single plane and formulated to provide an attaching eye at one edge protruding beyond the main portion of the body and a hook portion opposite the eye and protruding beyond the body to be threaded through some opening in a part to which the clasp is to be attached, a closure member also of sheet stock in substantially a single plane in lface to face contact with the body member,l means for relatively rotatably mounting said members, said closure member being provided with a finger portion to extend across the opening between said hook and the main portion of the body to prevent a part. in the opening through which said narrowed portion is threaded from becoming detached, said body member being also provided with a retaining part folded to sandwich the closure member between it and the bodyand resiliently apply'pressure on the closure member to retain it in the position to which it is adjusted.

2. In a clasp, a body member comprising a sheet of stock in substantially a single plane and formulated to provide an attaching eye at one edge protruding beyond the main portion of the body and a narrow portion spaced from the eye to be threaded through some opening in a part to which the clasp is to be attached, a closure member also of sheet stock in substantially a single plane in face to face contact with the body member, means for relatively rotatably mounting said members, said closure member being provided with a portion to extend across the opening between said narrow portion of the body and the main portion of the body to prevent a part in the opening through which said narrowed portion is threadedfrom becoming detached, said body member being also provided with a retaining part folded to sandwich the closure member between it and the body and resiliently apply pressure on the closure member to retain it inthe position to which it is adjusted.

3. In a clasp, a body member comprising a sheet of stock in substantially a single plane and formulated to provide an attaching eye at one edge protruding beyond the main portion of the body and a narrow portion spaced from the eye to be threaded through some opening in a part to which the clasp is to be attached, a closure member also of sheet stock` in substantially a single plane in face to face contact with the body member, means for relatively rotatably mounting said members, said closure member being provided with a portion to extend across the opening between said narrow portion of the body and the main portion of the body to prevent a part in the opening through which said narrowed portion is threaded from becoming detached, and means formed out of the stock of the body and closure member to provide a pivotal relation between the members, said body member being also provided with a retaining part folded to sandwich the closure member between it and the body and resiliently apply pressure on the closure member to retain it in the position to which it is adjusted.

4. In a clasp, a body member comprising a sheet of stock in substantially a single plane and formulated to provide an attaching eye at one' edge protruding beyond the main portion of the body and a narrow portion spaced from the eye to be threaded through some opening in a part to which the clasp is to be attached, a closure member also of sheet stock in substantially a single plane in face to face contact with the body member, said members each being provided with a central opening, means formed out of the stock of the body for relatively rotatably mounting said members, said closure member being provided with a portion to extend across the opening between said narrow portion of the body and the main portion of the body to prevent a part in the opening through which said narrowed portion is threaded from becoming detached, said body member being also provided with a retaining part folded toA sandwich the closure member between it and the body and resiliently apply pressureV on the closure member to retain itin the position to which it is adjusted.

CHARLES A. GOODWIN. 

